April 1945 - 461st Bombardment Group

commanded by Major Rider, attacked the target in ideal weather with good results. Air
Force scored the mission at 90.0 per cent. The bomb pattern was rectangular and well
concentrated over the width and length of the marshalling yard. There was no opposition
from either flak or fighters.
Mission No. 208, 6 April 1945 – Brescia/Breda Small Arms Works, Italy
The Group returned to Brescia, this time to bomb the Breda Arms Factory reported to
be manufacturing shell cases for the Germans. A force of twenty seven planes, led by
Major Thackston, dropped a heavy concentration of bombs directly on the target, gutting
about three fourths of the factory buildings and installations. The mission was scored at
95.5 per cent, which turned out to be the highest score obtained in April. There was no
interference from flak or fighters.
Mission No. 209, 7 April 1945 - Vipiteno Railroad Bridge, Italy
Unpredictable weather over the Alps prevented the Group formation from reaching
its objective, the railroad bridge at Vipiteno, Italy. After fighting strong head winds and
ten-tenths cumulus all the way from Fiume to a point just south of Villach, Major
Trommershausser, the formation leader, conceded victory to the elements and the had the
formation return to base. The Group received no credit for this mission.
Mission No. 209, 8 April 1945 - Gorizia Marshalling Yard, Italy
The field order for this day directed the Group to attack the marshalling yard at
Bronzolo in northern Italy. Bad weather still prevailed and after an unsuccessful attempt
to penetrate it in the area of Florence, the Group formation leader, Major
Trommershausser, selected the marshalling yard at Gorizia as an alternate target. At
Gorizia the weather proved no handicap, for the bombing was done visually and with
excellent results. Bomb strike photographs revealed that 56.3% of the bombs found their
mark within 1000 feet of the briefed aiming point, though the pattern was somewhat
scattered. No flak came up to oppose the formation. The Luftwaffe made a feeble gesture
when two ME109's dared show themselves in the area of Udine and did no more than
observe the formation from long range.
Mission No. 210, 9 April 1945 - Troop Concentrations Northeast of Lugo, Italy
April 9th was D-Day on the Italian front. In preparation for this day along towards
the latter part of March, the Group Command staff were called to a conference at 49th
Wing Headquarters, where they were told that a spring offensive on the Italian front was
in the offing. Plans were drawn up and every phase of Operation Buckland, as it was
called, was discussed.
Upon their return from the conference, the Group command staff began to make
intensive preparations. In the days following, flight navigators and bombardiers held
frequent meetings behind closed doors with Colonel Rogers, Major Rider, Major Murphy,
Captain Toth, and Lt. Goodfriend. A number of navigators and bombardiers were flown
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